The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-17
IN COLONIAL TIMES.
Two systems of white slavery Once Pre-
vailing In This Country.

Two systems of white slavery Once Pre-
vaiiing In This Country.
Many persons who consider them
selves familiar with the history of this
country are not aware that in the last
century white men, women and chill
dren were held in bondage; that the
colonial laws in favor of such seryitude
were as explicit and severe as were
those in support of negro slavery. Such
white persons owing a personal service
to individual masters were generally
known as term slaves" though their
legal status was represented by the
word .redemptioner.
Isaac Weld, Jr.. in his book Of travels
in America. published in the last
century. asserts that it was the custom
Of shipmasters at Rotterdam and the
Hanse towns to inveigle the people on
to their vessels. under promise of free
passage to America. On reaching the
colonies announcement of the arrival
of mechanics and laborers would be
made. and persons in want of such
would flock to the ships, and the poor
Germans would be sold TO the highest
bidder, the captains pocketing the pro-
ceeds.
Redemptioners constituted in the
early part of the eighteenth century a
peculiar feature of colonial anxiety.
They were recruited from among all
manner of people in the old world. and
through this channel Europe emptied
upon America not only the virtuous
poor and oppressed of her population,
but the Migrants. felons and the dregs
of her communities. There was thus
established among the first settlers a
society that, in many places. was al
most imbued with moral pcstilence.
Amcng the redemptioners, however.
were a fair proportion of sturdy souls,
strong in purpose and en6eavor, who
appreciated the great opportunity Gre
ated for them by this complete change
of life and country. At the expiration
of their term of service many, by thrift
and industry, elevated themselves to
respectable positions, and We're alb
sorbed in the middle class.
There were two kinds of redemp-
tioners-.indented servants" who
had bound themselves to their masters
for term previous to leaving the old
country, and free willers," who,
being without money and DESTROYS of
emigrating. agreed with the captains
of ships to allow themselves or their
families to be sold on arrival for the
captains advantage, and thus repay
costs of passage aud other expenses.
The former-indcnted scrvsnts-were
often trapped into their engagements
by corrupt agents at home vino per-
suaded them all under false promises
of tender and humane treatment, and
assurances of remunerative employ
ment at expiration of service, which
would insure a competent provision
for the remainder of their days. The
emigrants often discovered on arrival
that the advantages to be obtained in
America had been painted by the
agents in much too alluring colors.
Frequently their masters forced them
to most rigid labor and exercised an
unnecessary severity.
The free-willers suffered even worse
treatment at the hands of shipmasters
and agents They were led 10 believe
that on arrival in America their SER
vices would be ca -erly solicited by
persons who would gladly pay the cost
of their passages; which being only 20,
the emigrants would soon be able to
repay, and thus secure their liberty
and all the enjoyment and prosperity
that the new country afforded to add
venturers. Agreements were entered
into whereby these deluded ones bound
themselves that if, on arrival. they did
not succeed within certain number of
days in securing employment on their
own terms, they could be sold for a
term of years to defray the charges
for their passages. Alas! the "free-
willers,' with rare exceptions, had n
rude awakening on reaching the col
onies. Under their agreements the
captains had a legal hen on the per-
sons of the emigrants until the ship
Sh"i d S "NiC paul consequently tuty
were not allowed to go on shore, but
were exposed to view on deck to the peo-
pie who came on board in search of SER
wants Except in cases of extraordn-
airy qualifications. very few Of them
were happy enough to make their own
stipulations, and they found themselves
sold for several years of tedious labor
and servitude.
The terms and conditions of service
differed in the different colonies.
Among the archives of the Pennsylva-
MIA Historical Society are some origi-
nal bonds, or agreements, between
ship captains and redemptioners.
From them we learn that the usual
price paid in that colony for three
years service was Ell Is and Cd.
When his time had expired man was
entitled to receive two suits of clio thes,
grubbing hoe, wedding hoe, and
new axe. Children sold for from fS to
f10, and their masters were required
to see that they were taught TO read
and write, and had at least one quar-
ter's schooling.-N Y Star.